The end of October is probably best known for one of three things: beer gardens closing down, wearing shorts outdoors becoming less acceptable, and only 54 shopping days left until Christmas. However, for those of us with a child-like taste for the theatrics it’s also time for dusting off those pumpkins (ooh-err) and getting out your best fancy dress. Because October for most people under eleven means Halloween time!

Love it or loath it, October 31st is creeping up like a deranged psychopath with a bloody knife. And that means you’ll either be standing outside in the cold, daubed in makeup and drinking with your mates… or inside, not daubed in makeup and drinking with your mates. So in the sprit of things – no pun intended – we’ve decided to put together this Halloween Survival Guide for all our MixingOut members who want to embrace the frightening festivities or shy away from them.

Don’t fancy dressing up? No Worries!

If dressing up like a “Zombie Nurse/Celebrity” really isn’t your idea of a good time, there’s still plenty of things you can do with friends this Halloween.

1. Drinking Games, Horror Movie Style

The premise of this activity is quite simple. Sit down with a bunch of friends in front of a classic horror movie and every time somebody onscreen does something stupid (i.e. goes back into the scary house, leaves an attacker supposedly unconscious without taking said attacker’s disarmed weapon, or splitting up into search parties) you take a drink. You’ll get hammered very quickly.

2. Ouija Board Monopoly

Ordinarily, we wouldn’t advocate the use of an Ouija board. But when you’re playing Monopoly, we can’t imagine any unexplainable mishaps, except maybe the odd hotel going missing. The same rules of traditional Monopoly apply except you get to rename all the locales, such as “Elm Street” and “Leicester Scare” – only not as lame as that.

3. Friday Night Out

The best thing about Halloween this year? October 31st falls on a Friday, so there’s no need to stay in! Even though there’ll be Halloween themed events going on near you, there’ll also be plenty of venues putting on alternative events if you’re not into that sort of thing. Perfect!

Now and again we like to strap on our thinking caps here at MixingOut. And without getting too deep about the whole thing, there’s definitely an element of meeting new people and making friends that serves us in good stead, philosophically speaking. We’re ‘social animals’ and hardwired to seek out human companionship. Friendships have benefited us from the moment we first learned to walk upright and step outside of our caves.

But what about today? It’s not as if we’ve got giant wooly mammoths and sabre toothed tigers to contend with nowadays. Self preservation has shifted from survival to spiritual harmony. And if magazines, television and movies have taught us anything (because that’s pretty much where our researchers get all their information from) here’s precisely what we mean:

Friends will give you new and exciting experiences

Did you ever see The Hangover? How about The Goonies? All the great adventures begin with one thing: friendship. Why, even The Lord of The Rings begins with a gang of tiny buddies drinking in a tavern. You might not end up scaling the mountains of Mordor, but having an active social life is likely to give you new and exciting experiences.

Friends will help you overcome heartbreak

There’s fewer things more painful than a broken heart this day and age. Thankfully our friends are there to pick us up when we’re at our lowest. Read any copy of Cosmopolitan or catch any episode of any US sitcom ever. Failing that, watch Swingers, perhaps the funniest movie about friendship and heartache.

Friends will help you succeed at work

No, we’re not talking about that hilarious Pepsi advert where the lead’s friends help him rig a job interview so that he gets the job. Provided your mates aren’t keeping you out till all hours, having a fulfilling social life can make you happier and more productive at work.

At first, it starts off fine; you’ve joined your friends in a safe little mini circle, and everybody’s laughing and joking as they put their arms around each other in some palsied rendition of the Hokey Cokey. You continue through your repertoire of dance moves – “Playing Snooker”, “Stacking the Shelves”, and the ever reliable “Hula Hoop Around the Neck” – when all of a sudden you can’t think of what to do anymore. Now you’ve got to think, quite literally, on your feet.

So with that being said, here’s 3 over-thinker’s thoughts when it comes to finding yourself in that awkward dancing situation:

1. “Maybe more drink will make my dancing better”

Erm, absolutely. What could possibly go wrong?

2. “I don’t think I’m moving my arms enough”

Yep, if your dancing is lacking anything (other than choreography) it’s definitely arm moving. Pretend like you’re the girl at the beginning of Jaws. The more thrashing, the cooler you look.

3. “Should I break away from the group?”

Quite a tough one, this. Straying from the safety of your mates is a bit like prancing off into no-man’s land. You could end up looking like a hero, or a complete and total t*t if you’re not careful. Remember, fortune favours only the brave.

Nowadays, it doesn’t always come so naturally. Over the years we’ve gotten a little more self-restrained, a little more self-conscious, and a lot less impulsive. In other words, we’re much too scared of saying or doing the wrong thing, out of fear of looking like an idiot in front of other people who would then reject our friendship. And it’s not reflective of some flaw in our personalities, or some innate inability to make friends; it’s just a part of growing up.

With that in mind, shouldn’t we each take a leaf out of our six-year-old-selves and start living a little more… childishly. Or to put it another way, a little less seriously. So to show you what we mean, here’s 3 ways of making friends when you were young and how to translate them over to today:

‘Give me a crisp and I’ll be your friend’

A classic example of playground trickery resulting in instant friendship. Of course, it was never about getting your greedy mitts on somebody else’s food, it was about getting somebody’s attention.

These days, you can’t exactly go around asking potential mates for a swig of their pint or a bite of their lunch in exchange for your friendship (they’d think you were mad). But you can do the next best thing, making yourself known.

Sharing your best felt tips

Finding a coloured felt tip pen that hadn’t run dry was always the most challenging thing about class (that and making sure you’re colouring stayed within the lines). So it was always going to be instant BFF’s when somebody shared theirs with you.

Hopefully by now you’ve learned to use a proper pen, but that shouldn’t stop you from attending to the needs of others, sharing what you have to offer in order to get to know somebody else a little better. In short, it’s your round at the bar.

Inventing stuff 

If you were a girl, it was probably daisy chains and rose-petal perfume. If you were a boy, it was probably something altogether different and involved new ways of making the girls cry.

Either way, coming up with new and exciting things to do together can often form the basis of a longer lasting friendship. So the next time you’re out with a group of people, why not propose a future activity to experience for the first time together.

We’ve all seen the movies; new friends and old friends heading off on a night out/to search for a dead body/to throw a ring into the fires of Mordor. There’s always one of every ‘type’ to help the hero on their way. But when it comes back to the real world – which types of friends should everybody have in their circle?

1. Someone who is older and wiser than you – the guru

For those of you who never grew up with an older sibling, having a friend that is older is an absolute must. Somebody to hand down their worldly pearls of wisdom. You know the kinds of things; somebody to show the ropes when it comes to relationships, culture and getting out of jury service.

2. Somebody who is younger than you – the grasshopper

As well as sponging advice and information, you also have a responsibility to dish it out to those who need it. If having mentor can improve your character, then having somebody to share your wisdom can do just the same.

3. Somebody who isn’t afraid to say ‘yes’ – the fearless adventurer

‘Yes’ opens up a lot of avenues and opportunities. Having somebody around who isn’t afraid to try new things can do wonders for your social life. It gives you the support to experience the things you’ve always wanted but never had the courage to, as well as a few things you never even thought of.

4. Somebody who knows when to say ‘no’ – the sensible one

Even though ‘yes’ can be a good thing, it can also land you in hot water. It’s always good to have somebody around to keep you grounded, somebody there to remind you that you’ve got work in the morning, that maybe you’d better stick to water for the rest of the night – and that maybe you’re not ready to jump out of a plane just yet.

5. Someone who is the polar opposite to you – the person who surprises you

Instead of constantly surrounding yourself with people who are similar to you – with the same taste in clothes, music, films, hobbies, etc, it’s always good to branch out and meet new people you never even thought of being friends with. Limiting your circle of friends to a certain type might be a good way of doing the things you know you enjoy, but look elsewhere and you may just discover something new.

Besides finding someone else to help develop your fitness interests (because getting into shape is practically nine tenths motivation) it’s also a very effective way of being healthier, working out all that pent up frustration and energy, and generally feeling a whole lot better about yourself. And above all else, there are some really fun ways to go about it, especially when you’ve got a friend or two involved.

So, seeing as though Summer is only a few weeks away, here’s some fun and effective ways for friends to get fitter together.

Keeping things simple: Running

Most of us at some point have got up at 6am to go for a run before everyone else is awake, just so we can ‘secretively’ get into shape without anybody seeing us try. It’s hardly the most enjoyable way to exercise.

Much better to grab yourself a running-buddy and go for a jog/run together at a time that conveniences the both of you. Throw a little friendly competitiveness into the mix and you’ll be shedding those pounds in no time.

Going a bit more adventurous: Rambling and rock climbing

For those of you who like to get out a bit more and really feel the benefits, then why not arrange a day trip to any one of the beauty spots in and around your area.

Rolling hills, fresh air, steep climbs – there’s literally so much to do, you can make it as casual or as adventurous as you like. Many National Trust owned parks also do further activities, such as rock climbing, kayaking and bike rides. So if there’s something you’ve always felt like giving a go, it would be a great opportunity to try it with other people.

Or maybe somewhere in between: Gym and fitness classes 

If you’re stuck for ideas on what to do together, then maybe finding out what’s going on at your nearest gym is a good place to start. From simple fitness and yoga classes to higher-intense activities and workout sessions, there’s always something to cater for your level of fitness.

No – we’re talking about ‘non-dates’. Arranging to go out with maybe a new friend for the first time and just having a fun time with some good company. And we’ve got just the perfect settings to get you started:

1. Going for a Coffee

Sometimes coffee is best shared in the company of just the two of you. It means you can really get to know one another better over a hot drink and maybe a quick bite to eat. You can’t always get know somebody better when you’re trying to shout over blaring music, half intoxicated from the drinks on offer that night… sometimes these things are best saved for the light of day, in a quieter, more relaxed setting.

2. Hitting the Beer Garden

Then again, if coffee’s not your thing (and getting to know someone while your at least a quarter intoxicated is) then maybe hitting a beer garden is your best bet. It’s been getting nice and warm lately, so plenty of pubs and bars are starting to put more tables and chairs outside these days. Get the drinks in!

3. Catching a Film

Yes, we know what you’re thinking. Dim lighting, scary movie… it’s got to be a date, right? No! Going to the cinema with a new friend and seeing what films they’re into – and sharing what films you’re into – is a great way of getting to know one another. Besides, it can sometimes be difficult dragging somebody else to go and watch a movie that you really want to see but they don’t. So grab yourself a film-buddy for those blockbusters coming up!

But what could be more important than having a good time? After all, that’s what life is all about. So to help get the ball rolling, we’ve drummed up three of the best reasons why now is the perfect time to start doing more with MixingOut. 

Summer is just around the corner

Okay, so it might not be ‘beer garden weather’ just yet, but the all signs point to summer creeping around the corner. Yep, the warm weather certainly brings out the best in people. And for those who really know how to enjoy themselves and like to try something new.

No more excuses for staying in every night, sitting in front of TV and doing nothing. That was okay when it was still cold outside, but it won’t be long before the evenings start getting lighter and warmer for longer – that means more opportunities to meet up, make friends, and have some fun!

We’re bigger than ever

No, we’re not talking about that extra weight everybody put on over the winter – although this would be the perfect time to start getting out more and getting into shape for the summer. We meant that MixingOut has more members than before, over 1,000 at the moment, across Leeds, Derby, and Wakefield.

That’s right, we’ve been super busy behind the scenes continuously growing our community and now more people are getting in touch through MixingOut.

More events every week

The MixingOut events board is buzzing right now. With so many new sign ups each week, more and more people are posting suggestions for events, hosting their own meet ups and joining on to other people’s get togethers.

And that’s what makes MixingOut so exciting right now. If you’ve got a great idea for an event, or maybe something new that you’ve always wanted to try, just put it up on our Wish List and other people can help make it happen. See something your interested in? Then go and tag along! There’s always something for everybody.

But that’s not enough. We want to make life more exciting for EVERYONE! Which is why MixingOut is bringing the party to those who want to meet new friends in Wakefield.

As of right now, MixingOut is thrilled to announce we’re expanding our user base for people in Wakefield. That’s right, MO is getting bigger and bigger by the minute. We’ve taken a good look around the city and visited some of the local hotspots we think would be great for members to meet up and get together – so keep an eye out for a few of our favourites to appear on the site.

With so many great places to visit, we’re ecstatic to say we’re bringing the party to Wakefield. We’ve already had an overwhelming number of sign ups, local girls and guys who are up for having fun and making new friends in the process. As well as all that, we’ve also got some really friendly organisers lined up to help put on events.

So if you’re new to Wakefield and looking to meet new friends, or if you already live in the city and fancy trying something different, meeting up with lots of new people who just want to have a good time, then sign up to MixingOut and get a heads up on the latest goings on.

In the meantime, ladies of Wakefield might be interested to know that on Saturday 22^nd March, MixingOut organiser Andie will be hosting a get together at Qubanas in Wakefield, for a light lunch, girl talk and cocktails. So if you fancy popping along, sign up here.

The key is to keep things simple. You can make some very easy changes that seem small, but add up to a great deal in the long run, especially when it comes to your social life. So with that being said, here’s a quick list of New Year’s resolutions that every person should consider:

1. Put the smart phone away, especially in the company of others. It seems as though we’ve become so dependant on our second screens that we’ve forgotten the fundamentals of social etiquette. Would you start casually flipping through a magazine whilst somebody was trying to hold a conversation with you? No? Then leave the smart phone in your pocket.

2. Plan something interesting with friends six months in advance. That way, if the next six months don’t pan out exactly as you’d hoped, you’ll still have something to look forward to.

3. Make more of an effort to stay in touch with friends, other than texting and Facebook. Even if it’s just a short phone call once a week, or a catch up over a drink and a quick bite to eat, regular contact with your mates is so important – no matter how busy things get!

4. If there’s nothing on television, get yourself up off the sofa and meet up with friends instead. All too often we end up staying in and ogling the telly, even when we know there’s nothing worth watching. It’s a bad habit and it’s got to stop now!

5. Find something you’ve always wanted to do and get a friend to do it with you. Whether you’ve always wanted to jump out of a plane, go paint balling, or join the gym, getting a friend to do the same will alleviate the anxiety of trying something new all by yourself. This way, you are far more likely to actually do it.

6. Next time you’d rather stay at home when somebody asks to meet up, go against your instinct and meet up anyway. The best nights out are always unplanned and spontaneous. Trust us.